Lost motion measuring tool



Oct. 20, 1953 c. G. SIBBLE 2,655,731

' LOST MOTION MEASURING TOOL.

Filed June 12, 1952 Carl 6. .Sl'bble 34 INVENTOR.

ale WMFMLW Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to automotive tools, testing and gaging devices and has more particular reference to a portable hand tool which is expressly designed and properly adapted to enable one, usually an automobile mechanic, to ascertain the approximate degree of play or lost motion existing in a vehicle wheel mounting.

State inspection requirements in many States allow maximum play or lost motion ranging onehalf inch more or less and in many States the maximum allowance is one-quarter of an inch. The individual who conducts or makes the test is usually called upon to jack up the vehicle and to catch hold of the wheel at top and bottom portions and to wobble it either in or out. In so doing it is possible for one skilled in this line of duty to be able to detect the approximate lost motion resulting from spindle wear, wear of the bushings or bearings, as the case may be. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a more reliable ways and means of attending to this checking step and, in so doing, a simple, practical and economical tool has been evolved and produced.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the present invention, therefore, relates to certain new and useful improvements in lost motion testing tools and has to do with one which is unique, easy to handle and reliable in ascertaining the information desired.

In carrying out the invention a frame, which takes the form of a small heavy stand, is employed. This is provided with several legs to rest on the ground or other surface. It is also provided with an extensible and retractable measuring member which cooperates, through the medium of an indicator, with suitably provided scales, making it possible to rest the member against a surface of the wheel and to actuate the Wheel, while jacked, in such a manner as to check king pin wear in order that repairs, if needed, may be adequately taken care of and in this manner to promote greater safety and to eliminate abnormal tire tread wear.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a front elevation showing an automobile jacked up and showing the manner in which the gage or tool is applied to take the desired measurement.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tool by itself, this on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a front end elevation, that is, a view observing the tool in a direction from left to right in the drawings.

Figure 4 is a central vertical section taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cros section taken on the vertical line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The over-all instrumentality or tool is characterized, as is evident, by two essential components. The main frame unit is denoted by the numeral 6 and this has been variously classed either as a stand or base. It is preferably a heavy metal casting which stays put once it is set in the position in the manner shown for example in Figure 1. It is also, by preference, a triple-leg construction. It comprises, therefore, a horizontal bar member 8 with a curved bend at one end as at H], terminating in what may be called an outer leg l2. At the forward end of the bar member is a depending or vertical yoke [4 having downwardly curving properly balanced and self-standing legs H3. If it is desired to hold the foot on the stand while making the test the flat surface 8 will be advantageous as is obvious. The left-hand end of the bar member is formed with a polygonal bore I8 Which functions as a socket. The socket opens through the left hand end of the stand and it is closed at the right-hand end as at 20 in Figure 4. There is also a recess which communicates with the socket and this is what may be called a sight opening. The sight opening has its lengthwise marginal edges beveled and calibrated to provide selectively usable suitably graduated scales 22 and 24 conveniently readable from either side of the sight opening. The complemental unit 26 is substantially T-shaped. The stem portion is polygonal in cross section as at 28 and is telescopically and slidably mounted in the socket and works in and out by hand adjustment. It is held in a set position by Way of a suitably mounted and cooperating setscrew as at 33. That portion which is exposed in the sight opening is provided with a suitable indicator 32 whose pointed ends cooperate with the graduations on the scales 22 or 24, as the case may be. The head portion is denoted by the numeral 34 and it is Vertically disposed and provides an abutment which is engaged with the side wall of the wheel W in the manner shown. The stem portion with its index cooperating with the scales functions as a sort of a measuring ruler, as it were.

To use the device or tool it is necessary to put floor jacks A underneath the motor vehicle and to raise the front wheels ofi of the floor some one or two inches. Then, the next thing to do is tighten the setscrew 30 in order that the index means 32 will be opposite the zero notations on the respective scales 22 and 24. Then the stand is placed oni'the fiooriwith -athe vertical abutment' head 34 beari-Iig ag ainstthe outsid'e -of the ve*- hicle wheel. After loosening the setscrew the user simply grasps the wheel at top and bottom portions and moves the wheel either. Qr 0ut.,,. Thismeans that the slidable T member 26"Will, through the medium of the indicating arrowsands w scale markings, register the amount of wear of the worn king pin bolts, bushings or bearifigsis The result will enable the user to determine;- Whether the wheel is safer-for continued use or if tightening adj ustmentsorrepairs are advisable.

The'main frame 6, being of triple'leg'coristruc tion,,permits it to set firmlyandrigidl'yfon even garage or shop'floors thatare notleve'lf After the tool has been used .to' measure1'th'ej1 amount ofiwear in spindle bolts, bushings, beare?" ings, etc., a small hand jack (not shown) should be"place'd or set between"whe'el (W) 'and'floor jacks A about? or 3" from'inside vvheelTW)? with (topv of'f'small handljackl under. lower suspension arm. Now, raise lower suspension 'arm to compress coil spring until front independent" wheel suspension parts arefree; Set gauge'as beforeland 'm'ove either ininorfout and the tool. wil1 measure the amountofiwear in the pins, bolts',. 5 bushings and arms..- of the independent. front wheel suspension systems :usedin nearly' all/late model automobiles. Thisjlastjstepiis used only onautomobiles that have independentlirdnt 1 wheel. suspension systems; 40

Thesconstructionflis quite 'simplefiiniorm and requires no' mechanical knowledgato understand its-use. r The readings are in plain view, easily. 1vv read and maybe dependedeupon asllreliablelclues for :needed adjustment.service.v 4

It is thought that persons skilled in theiart toI which the invention relates lwillibe table to-obtain a clear understanding of the invention after. c'on-.. sidering, the description in ,7 connectionwithltha, drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy: description is regarded aszunnecessaryn,

Minorchan-ges infshap e, size. -and arrangementll of details ccminge-within-ithei field ofeinventionl claimedmay be'resortedl to .in ac'teaifpracnce, if "T desired. Q

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A measuring tool to'detect' and ascertain'un ffi due lost motion and play-ina mounted vehicle wheel comprising a tripodal 'sta'ndybf prescribed mass and heaviness so'th'at'onceit is-s'etin a po'-'" sition on the floor close to the wheelto be'meas' ured 'it willbe in position during' -the measur ingmperation, said:- stand embodying 'a horizon invention, ,wh-at Jis. V

tal bar member with a curved bend at one end defining a leg and provided at its end with a vertical yoke embodying downwardly curving additiona1 legs, the several legs serving to adequately support the stand in a reliably usable position on inclined surfaces or slightly ueven surfaces, said bar member being provided with a polygonal bore opening at one end through the bar member and providing a socket, said bar member having? afrecessi embodying a slot opening into three socket and embodying '-'convergihg- "bevelled edges, the bevelled edges being graduated and prbviding selectively usable scales, a substantially T-shaped member including a horizontal stem portidncorrespdiiding in cross-section with the socket andez slidable but non-rotatable in the socket and, having indicator means cooperating Withthegra'duations on the scales, the head portions-abeing vertically disposed and being adapted to abut a cooperating surface of the wheelwhich is .to be checked. 1,

2. :A measuring. ,toolto detectiand. ascertain .7 undue: lostemotion and play in la mcunted.. ve-.. hicle wheelcomprising a 'tripodal"standbflpre determined mass- :and: consequent heaviness .-l

adapted to-.-set,in a firm and.reliable-position;

on the $1001 ..closeito ...the Wheel to be measured}, said stand embodying ea :vertical 1 inverted U-= shaped yoke-providinga pair of=depending support-legs; a horizontal bar memberwith its axis.- I

a position atrightangles tothe main plane of saidyoke and having :-'one end joined-tothe:

upper central portion 'ofthe yoke; the opposite T-shaped member including- :a horizon-tahstem- 1 portion*teleseopically and *slida-bly mounted in saidsock-etand includinga headr-at right angles-*- to the stern and spaced outwardly from=gbut-=int- 5 closecproximity' totheadjacent faceof theyoke? and indicator means on- 'saidstem cooperating 'ad-.-"-

justably-:-with- :the graduations;"said head being-2i adapted: to abut a "cooperating 1' surface of the wheel which-is to be checkedii;

CARlswG; FSIBBLE; 1

fiefef'ences cited in" the fileof" this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS} 

